MaxPreps 2014 Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 Preseason Football Rankings

Some familiar faces dot the top of the MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 preseason rankings as staying power remains the theme.

Folsom finished the last two seasons No. 1 and starts there again with a wealth of returning talent. A closer look:


1. Folsom (14-1 in 2013)
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: QB Jake Browning (5,737 yards, 75 TDs), OL Cody Creason, Jonah Williams, WR Josiah Deguara, DE Sam Whitney, RB Bailey Laolagi
Opener: at Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), Aug. 29
Comment: The Bulldogs have gone 14-1 in each of the past two seasons, losing only to top-ranked De La Salle.

2. Elk Grove (12-2)
Coach: Chris Nixon
League: Delta
Top players: RB Spencer Sheff (791 yards, 11 TDs), DB Shaunard Harts, QB Tyler Vander Waal, DT Sai Ta'amu
Opener: vs. Damonte Ranch (Reno) Aug. 29
Comment: The Thundering Herd has pieced together three consecutive 12-win seasons, and expect another.

3. Del Oro (Loomis) (13-3)
Coach: Casey Taylor
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: WR Trey Udoffia (nine TDs receiving), DB Justin Burrage (seven interceptions), QB Logan Hurst
Opener: vs. Kamehameha (Hawaii), Aug. 29
Comment: Few teams on the West Coast schedule as tough as the Golden Eagles, who have reached two Bowl games in the past three seasons.

4. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (12-2)
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: QB Ian Book (2,558 yards passing, 30 TDs); OL Nolan Book; RB/DB Andrew Lackowski, RB Stephen Douglas
Opener: vs. Whitney (Rocklin), Aug. 29
Comment: The Trojans and No. 1 Folsom join the already-stacked SFL that includes other ranked teams in Del Oro, Granite Bay and Rocklin.

5. Grant (Sacramento) (8-4)
Coach: Mike Alberghini
League: Delta
Top players: RB/LB Deondre' Whittington-Grays (1,215 yards, 15 touchdowns), OL Darrin Paulo, QB Donovan Brown (1,367 yards passing, 13 TDs)
Opener: at Burbank (Sacramento), Aug. 29
Comment: The Pacers have made the playoffs a section-record 23 consecutive seasons behind a mix of power, speed and drive.

6. Jesuit (Carmichael) (9-4)
Coach: Marlon Blanton
League: Delta
Top players: RB Beauman Bisharat (1,119 yards, 13 TDs), WR Isaiah Bailey (747 yards, 12 TDs), QB Cole Brownholtz, OL/DL Kori Collons
Opener: No. 1 De La Salle, Aug. 29
Comment: The Marauders, a power in previous decades, are back on track under coach Blanton, who played and coached at De La Salle.

7. Franklin (Elk Grove) (8-4)
Coach: Mike Johnson
League: Delta
Top players: QB Lamar Jackson (1,428 yards passing, 565 rushing, 22 total touchdowns); WR Brandon Johnson, WR Denzel Hampton
Opener: at Atwater, Aug. 29
Comment: The Wildcats are fast and physical and two years removed from a 10-0 regular season.

8. Granite Bay (8-4)
Coach: Ernie Cooper
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: LB Cameron Smith (126 tackles), LB Drew Tonda (125 tackles), DB Tre' Ball (three interceptions)
Opener: vs. Cosumnes Oaks, Sept. 5
Comment: Coach Cooper returns after a year off to recharge from winning the 2012 CIF State Division I Bowl.

9. Vacaville (8-4)
Coach: Mike Papadopoulos
League: Monticello Empire
Top players: QB Chad Hekking (1,614 yards, 17 TDs), RB Damonte Moore (614, 7 TDs), RB Kane Cunningham (446, 4)
Opener: at No. 8 Oak Ridge, Sept. 5
Comment: The Bulldogs have been a Section power for years, heavy on the run and in effort.

10. Rocklin (7-4)
Coach: Greg Benzel
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: RB Evyn Holtz (1,130 yards, 8 TDs), WR Blake Laurin (566 yards receiving, 8 TDs), K Max O'Rourke (67 total points)
Opener: vs. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Aug. 29
Comment: Holtz will lead the running attack for the always-dangerous Thunder.

11. Merced (8-3)
Coach: Rob Scheidt
League: Central California
Top players: QB Tyrone Williams (2,060 yards passing, 19 TDs, 6 TDs rushing), RB Jabar Byrd (624, 6), LB Jermon Cook
Opener: vs. Clovis West (Fresno), Aug. 29
Comment: The Bears, a power since the 1980s, have speed at the skill positions, a team staple.

12. Sacramento (11-3)
Coach: Paul Doherty
League: Metropolitan
Top players: RB/LB Lonny Powell (1,033 yards, 10 TDs, 23 sacks), QB Caden Voges (4,351 yards, 48 TDs), WR/DB Kyron Basped (10 TDs)
Opener: at El Camino (Sacramento), Sept. 5
Comment: The Dragons won their first playoff games — ever — last season and reached the D-III finals.

13. St. Mary's (Stockton) (6-5)
Coach: Tony Franks
League: Tri-City Athletic
Top players: WR Demetrius Ferguson (529 yards, 4 TDs), TE Karsten Lee, LB Khalil Hodge
Opener: vs. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), Sept. 5
Comment: A powerhouse for years, the Rams have another tough schedule, though no longer with De La Salle.

14. Lincoln (Stockton) (5-6)
Coach: Brian Gray
League: Tri-City Athletic
Top players: QB Colby Dickson, WR/DB Mark Russell, WR/DB Cameron Crump
Opener: vs. Stagg (Stockton), Aug. 29
Comment: The league is suddenly much deeper with ranked rivals St. Mary's and Tracy in the mix.

15. Tracy (10-2)
Coach: Matt Shrout
League: Tri-City Athletic
Top players: RB Tracy Jones (1,174 yards, 19 TDs), OL Nate Brown, RB Jason Nelson
Opener: vs. Freedom (Oakley), Aug. 29
Comment: A power in the 1970s and '80s, the Bulldogs surged strong again last season.

16. Inderkum (Sacramento) (10-3)
Coach: Terry Stark
League: Tri-County Conference
Top players: DL Nick Falo, RB Austin Thurman (551 yards, 10 TDs), LB Derrick Henderson (106 tackles)
Opener: vs. Reno, Aug. 29
Comment: The Tigers live by the wing-T and have won six of the last league titles as a perennial section-title contender.

17. Buhach Colony (Atwater) (4-6)
Coach: Kevin Navarra
League: Central California
Top players: RB Aundre Sherman (739 yards, 6 TDs, 5 TD receptions), RB Justin Stefani (539, 6 TDs), RB Stephon Eastman (223 yards)
Opener: vs. El Capitan (Merced), Aug. 29
Comment: BC expects a return to the playoffs after reaching the section D-II semifinals the previous three seasons.

18. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (10-3)
Coach: Russell Gardner
League: Delta
Top players: RB Demare Morris (673 yards, 9 TDs), RB Sedrick Thomas, OL/DL Isaiah Tharp
Opener: vs. No. 10 Rocklin, Aug. 29
Comment: Gardner takes over for first-year coach Jason Rossow, sidelined after brain surgery; team seeks 8th consecutive playoff berth.

19. Burbank (Sacramento) (9-3)
Coach: John Heffernan
League: Metropolitan
Top players: RB Harrison Anderson (655 yards, 8 TDs), DL Gerald Pliman
Opener: vs. No. 5 Grant, Aug. 29
Comment: The Titans seek their fourth successive league title, and will battle rival Sacramento for the honors.

20. Placer (Auburn) (6-6)
Coach: Joey Montoya
League: Pioneer Valley
Top players: OL/DL Johnny Capra, OL/DL Jacob Capra, RB Ryan Gray (13.3 average, 5 TDs)
Opener: vs. Nevada Union (Grass Valley)
Comment: The Hillmen started slow and finished fast last season, winning another league title as a small-school powerhouse.

21. Oakdale (7-5)
Coach: Trent Merzon
League: Valley Oak
Top players: RB Brock Whiting, RB Max Stevens, RB Darus Nelson
Opener: vs. Sonora, Aug. 29
Comment: After reaching the section D-III finals in three consecutive seasons, the tradition-rich Mustangs fell to Sacramento in a semifinal in 2013.

22. Central Catholic (Modesto) (15-1)
Coach: Roger Canapa
League: Valley Oak
Top players: QB Hunter Petlansky, TE Jared Rice, RB Montell Bland
Opener: at Atwater, Sept. 5
Comment: The two-time CIF State D-IV champions are in a larger league now, but still stand as the best small-school power around.

23. Whitney (Rocklin) (8-4)
Coach: Mike Gimenez
League: Capital Valley
Top players: QB Hunter Rodrigues (led a 9-1 JV team), S Daniel Jones
Opener: vs. No. 4 Oak Ridge, Aug. 29
Comment: The Wildcats will find out what they have in a hurry by facing a strong nonleague schedule.

24. Vanden (Fairfield) (8-4)
Coach: LeVon Haynes
League: Solano County Athletic
Top players: QB Jadon Brisendine (2,949 yards, 43 TDs, RB Isaiah Hamilton (1,114 yards, 17 TDs)
Opener: at Dixon, Sept. 5
Comment: The Vikings have been winning titles and competing for them since the 1970s.

25. Napa (6-5)
Coach: Troy Mott
League: Monticello Empire
Top players: RB Derek Poteet (750 yards, 9 TDs), RB Mac Neilson (425 yards, 6 TDs), WR/AP Austin Aaron (94 yards per game offense)
Opener: vs. Montgomery (Santa Rosa), Aug. 29
Comment: Aaron at 6-foot-5 is a load, headed to Cal, for a Napa team expecting to compete for the MEL title.



Read The Bee's preseason Top 20 rankings and news and notes

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through www.sacbee.com. He co-hosts with Mike Finnerty The Bee Preps Show every Tuesday (with re-airs throughout the week) on ComcastSportsNet California.